On August 31, 2014 at approximately 5:30 pm, Mercer Island Police Patrol Units were alerted to a burglary that had just occurred in the 11000 block of S.E. 27th Place, in Bellevue. Bellevue Police reported the two suspects were fleeing the area in a white Mitsubishi Eclipse and requested Mercer Island Police watch Interstate 90 in the westbound direction.
The suspect vehicle was spotted on I-90 near East Mercer Way traveling in the HOV lane at an estimated speed between 90-100 mph. Mercer Island Patrol Officers observed the suspect vehicle exit I-90 at the 80th Ave S.E. HOV off-ramp at an estimated speed of 80 mph.
At the top of the off-ramp, the suspect vehicle struck one vehicle that was traveling southbound on 80th Avenue S.E. from North Mercer Way and came to rest facing north in the southbound lanes. Both suspects exited the vehicle and fled on foot. There were no injuries reported in the vehicle that was struck.
As officers approached the collision scene, witnesses pointed in the direction that both suspects fled. After a short time, Mercer Island Officers arrested a 19 year old female from Mountlake Terrace who was hiding in the bushes in the 7900 block of Sunset Highway.
A perimeter was established and a K-9 was requested to conduct a search. Once the K-9 arrived and was deployed, a male subject crawled out from the bushes on North Mercer Way approximately 100 yards from the collision scene. Island police quickly took this subject, 26, of Everett, into custody, who was later found to be the registered owner of the white Eclipse.
The victim of the burglary in Bellevue positively identified both suspects and Bellevue Police Officers took custody of them and the vehicle, which was said to contain stolen property.
Mercer Island Police Officers conducted a collision investigation and cited the male driver for reckless driving, reckless endangerment and hit and run. Bellevue’s burglary investigation is ongoing.
